The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-31
STRIKE ORDERED.
$4,000 Reading Miners Ordered Out,
Besides Every Man in the Employ
of the Company,
With the Exception of Passenger
Crews, Trackmen, Etc.
The Order to Quit Work, However,
Operates Badly Thus Far.
All the Men at the Different Places Still
Remain at Work, Refusing TO Obey
the Mandate-A Decent Order
"A Bloody Circular.

READING, Pa, Dec 30.-The convention
OF Reading railroad employees, after con.
tinuous session of nearly eight hours, ad-
journed at $3.50 o'clock this morning, and
at that time decided TO issue orders for a
general strike TO take place at IL o'clock
today. Every man in the employ OF the
Reading company, with the exception of
passenger-train crews, trackmen and
signal-towcr men and crossing watchmen,
is TO go on a strike, and fifteen minutes
after the meeting the signal was flashed
across the wires TO Philadelphia and Will
iamsport.
The resolution says that the men shall
strike and remain ont until the company
shall agree TO arbtrate all differences.
This includes the shop men in this city
who took the initiative in refusing TO 90
out early this week, thus breaking the
backbone Of the strike at that time, and
every man who belongs TO the knights.
A resolution was also passed offering
reward OF -, 900 for the arrest of any per
son who in any way destroys or Injuries
any OF the company's property The order
includes not only the hands ON the main
line, but over the whole system. and is TO
take effect at noon today. IL is thought
that the shop hands in this city will
not obey the order. After the adjournment
OF the convention the miners held a
separate session, and did not adjourn until
D O'Clock this morning. They transacted
nothing definite in reference 10 striking,
but agreed TO give full financial and moral
support 10 the strikers on the railroad.
The Schuylkill county delegation consists
OF l25 delegates, and they almost 10 a man
predicted that the company's $4,000
miners would strike II they were not con.
tinued the s per cent. advance.
The miners did not desire 10 strike with
the railroad men because they are work.
ing under an agreement with the com
pany, which Is binding until January |,
and because they slill have hopes that
the company will continue the per cent.
advance.
Chairman Lee, Of the executive commit
tee, be.ore he left Reading this morning.
declared that II strike OF miners did take
place II would nN only affect the Schuyl-
Kill miners, but those in the Wyoming
coal fields, as well as the Ichigh miners.
He felt sure they would all remain firm,
thus placing on strike at one time 5000
miners, and not pound Of coal could
then he mined. Last nights convention
consisted OF exactly 800 delegates, II major-
~ OF whom came from the coal regions,
the Jehigh aud Wyoming miners being
also represented. The convention was
entirely secret. Hardly delegate arrived
before sundown last evening, and every
one had disappeared from the city before
daylight. Tho company's officials In this
city are not greatly exercised over the new
order 10 the milroadcn to strike. They
say that the trains are all running ON
time; that they have all the men they
want aud Others IN reserve, and that the
only danger IL Of coal famine II the
miners should strike.